, 1887-06-09
RECOVERING FROM SLAVERY.

cieS, and OF It's Deastlal relics, III tne
short period of a quarter of CEN
tury, They had the institution
nearly three hundred years. 1t Is
not easy for any people In short
time to get rid Of customs of long
standing. Customs 80 intimately
connected with the social and finan-
cial condition of any people usually
take centuries to eliminate. 1t Is
only the energy and wisdom of her
people and the natural productive
ness of her soil that has enabled the
south to make such rapid strides for
recovery and recuperatlon from
such radical change In her agri-
cultural methods. These people are
doing better, perhaps, under the
radical change in her methods
than we in the north are inclined to
give her credit for. What we pro-
pose to say should not be taken as
criticism but rather as a friendly
reference to subject in which the
whole country is vitality interested.
One of the relics OF slavery which
bobs up serenely, at short intervals,
in one place or another in the old
slave states is disposion on the part
of some of the white men to intimi-
date or drive persons away from
legitimate business.
A negro exodus, for example, was
in progress at Edwards, Miss. Car
loads of men, women and children
were leaving to seek employment
in the bottom land section of that
state. They had a perfect right to
go; it was their privilege to go to
any part of the United States. But
mass meeting of tho "best
citizens" held at Edwards, Or
dered the emigration agents out OF
the country and the negroes were
intimidated into remaining.
In South Carolina, according to a
special to the Baltimore Sun, the
legislature has strengthened the
militia, on account of the appearance
among the negroes of organizers of
the knights of Labor. Some Of the
papers are advising the farmers to
"spot" these organizers. That
means "Compel them to leave the
neighborhood." The organizers
have the right to remain. They are
not disturbed north of the old line
OF slavery, nor in the old slave states
adjacent to that line. But South
Carolina, in some places, Is advising
the people to "spot" them. This is
force, and must finally yield to bet
ter government under just laws.
The legislature of South
Carolina passed a bill
making the attempt to interfere
with the execution of contracts,
whether written or verbal, conspir-
acy and subject to heavy penalties.
This lawis designed to reach the
persons who organize or attempt to
control labor organizations in which
there are men who are bound by
contract to perform certain work.
The justness of the law will uot be
questioned by right minded persons
What action, If any, the law makers
will take in case combinations are
formed for example, not to pick cot
ton unless certain prices are paid
remain to be developed.
II we accept the special to the Bal
timore Snn as correctly represent
ing the situation, the law recently
passed by the legislature of South
Carolina to increase the militia was
virtually enacted in consequence o.
arguments to the effect that armed
men may be required to force th'
laborers into the field in case of ;
strike. The indications are that th'
laborers who are not financially re
sponsible, and who have not suffi
cient honor to fill contract, or VIII
may decline to contract unless Ger
tain prices are paid, are to be so in
tmidated as to prefer picking cot
ton as to the possibility of sutlerin!
bodily harm.
1t was openly asserted, in the stat
capitol by persons interested in hav
ing the militia increased, that thi
power would he sufficient to enforc
discipline among the laborers, ant
that in case of a strike when the en-
tire cotton crop of the state is il
danger of being lost for want Of be
ing promptly gathered, more bloo'
will be shed than was shed in Chica
60 and other labor troubles of recen
date. We are to infer from this 40
, that the laborers will shed this bloo
but that their blood will be she'd i
, they don't go to the cotton fields.
1t is quite plain that between tn
organizers of the knights of Labor
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